The Energy Minister tells TV6 News he is optimistic about the future of this country's downstream sector which includes ammonia plants in Pointt Lisas, as he is acknowledging those plants are facing challenges with the supply of natural gas.
This follows his meeting with executives of one joint venture which operates two ammonia plants and several other utility areas at Point Lisas. Juhel Browne reports.
00:00TV6 News is drilling down to find out how the government is dealing with the declining supply of natural gas to the downstream plants in Trinidad.
00:10We sought answers from Energy Minister Dr Rudhal Munilal on Monday.
00:13All parties understand that we are going through a difficult phase at this time.
00:19After 10 years of decline in the oil and gas sector, several companies are operating at less than maximum capacity.
00:30And this has, of course, been caused by the shortage of gas and curtailment cycles.
00:37But we are hoping that in 15 months, 18 months or so, we'll get over this hurdle as we work with the upstream sector to ensure that we have an expansion in gas supply.
00:49The upstream sector is comprised of multinational giants like BP and Shell, which drill for oil and natural gas in Trinidad and Tobago's waters.
00:58We sought an update from Minister Munilal on the issue as a delegation from the Energy Ministry, led by him and Minister in the Ministry of Energy, Ernesto Kessar,
01:07met with top executives of Yarra Trinidad and Trinidad Nitrogen Company Limited, TrinGen, last week.
01:14In a statement late last week, the Energy Ministry said the meeting and tour focused on matters of energy security, TrinGen's role in the national economy,
01:23collaboration with public-private partnerships and agricultural initiatives within the country.
01:28We did have a very effective and productive tour at TrinGen Yarra facilities at Point Lisas.
01:37It was very important at this phase in our transition that Minister Kessar and myself go out into the field, so to speak,
01:46to actually look at the production processes, to speak with the workers,
01:52to understand the challenges faced by the various downstream entities.
01:56On October 23rd, Nutrien confirmed to TV6 News that it had safely shut down its nitrogen operations at Point Lisas.
02:06Nutrien told TV6 News that among the challenges it faced was the absence of a reliable and economically sustainable natural gas supply.
02:14The Energy Ministry said in a statement late last week that the Yarra Caribbean and National Enterprises Limited, Nell,
02:21is a joint venture officially known as TrinGen in which Nell owns the 51 percent and Yarra Caribbean,
02:27a subsidiary of Yarra International ASA, owns the 49 percent.
02:32The Energy Ministry further said Yarra Trinidad Limited manages and operates the site on behalf of TrinGen,
02:38a joint venture which operates two ammonia production plants, a power generation plant, port and harbour facilities,
02:46and several other utility areas at Savonetta Point Lisas.
02:50We continue to work with TrinGen and others to ensure that we participate fully in their objectives.
02:59We have, of course, joint objectives.
03:02We were interested very much in discussing their investment plans and the future of Trinidad and Tobago downstream sector.
03:09The Energy Minister told TV6 News on Monday that the meeting and tour of the TrinGen facility is part of an ongoing initiative for him and his team to familiarise themselves
03:31with the downstream plants and production processes and, most important, with the workforce to understand some of the challenges faced.
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